Residents plead for help coastal erosion

A 1.5km long embankment and reclamation work to address the problem lack of embankment

Erosion and the destruction of mangrove forests along a 1.5km stretch of coastline in Pontian are exposing residents to the risk of property damage during storms.

The 28 families of Kampung Permata panic every time a storm occurs as there are no concrete wave breakers or mangroves to protect their village from the impact of huge waves during downpours.

They claimed that coastal erosion had been occurring for about 30 years.

The village's Umno branch chief, Abdul Aziz Sulaiman, 52, said there was a drainage system, but it was of no use as erosion still continued to occur.

He said many homes would be damaged during storms. Often, he said, the roofs were blown away. Villagers are worried as the houses are becoming more and more exposed to the fury of the sea as coastal erosion continues unabated.

"We hope the government will take this problem seriously, as property is often damaged when there is a storm."

Besides erosion, Rashid Rahman, 52, said villagers were also threatened by floods.

"The residents are getting more worried by the day. An embankment should built and reclamation work should be carried out."

Pontian member of parliament Datuk Ahmad Maslan said he had applied for a RM7million allocation from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to put a stop to the coastal erosion and flooding.

"The allocation includes funds to build a 1.5km-long embankment along the coast and for reclamation work to be done to prevent further erosion," said Ahmad.

Source: UMI NADIRAH ABDUL RAHMAN AND TOGI MARZUKI